WHEDco

05/30/2026

On Friday, May 29th WHEDco’s Home-Based Child Care Division (HBCC) hosted an Open House and Family Resource Fair at Intervale Green, located at 1305 Louis Nine Boulevard in the Bronx. During the event, families, expecting parents, and caregivers had an opportunity to connect with WHEDco services and community resource partners, while enjoying giveaways, arts & crafts activities for children, games, raffles, and more.

Our gift card raffles were especially popular, generating excitement and engagement among our community, while our Pop-Up Boutique was a tremendous hit. Families were appreciative of the opportunity to access quality clothing, diapers, wipes, and cosmetics, further reinforcing the value of providing both resources and tangible supports through community events.

Partnering organizations included the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Safe Sleep program, ABC, Essen Health Care, VNS Health, and other community partners, alongside WHEDco’s Early Childhood Education and Family Support programs, as well as the Bronx Music Heritage Center. We thank our staff, leadership, partners, and sponsors for making this an incredibly successful event, where community families were able to gain access to much-needed resources and services!

05/28/2026

📢Calling all owners, operators, and entrepreneurs! The NYC Department of Small Business Services has released a survey accessible in multiple languages to better understand operating costs and how they impact small business owners across the five boroughs. This information can help inform programs and policies to help NYC's small businesses. 👉You can help shape future policies and programs that will support your business by completing the survey here: https://nyc-business.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/business-services/regulatory-assistance/cost-of-doing-business-in-nyc-survey

05/15/2026

When you read, you win. In the WHEDco After School Enrichment Program at PS/IS 218, we really emphasize the “FUN” in Fundamental with our monthly reading challenge. The three 6th graders who read the most in the last month got to pick a staff member to pie. Who will win next month, and who will be pied?

05/15/2026

This week was eventful for the and sectors! On Monday, May 11th, representatives from WHEDco’s Home-Based Child Care team were proud to join Governor Kathy Hochul, elected leaders, parents, and advocates at the Vanderbilt YMCA, as the Governor announced investments in the FY2027 State Budget that will put New York on the path to delivering universal childcare.

Then, on May 13th, we joined the Mayor's Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education at the 2026 Child Care and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation at Gracie Mansion, where we honored dedicated educators, including one of our network home-based providers, Ms. Desiree Reid, who joined WHEDco’s Family Child Care Network (Early Learn) and CACFP Network in 2023.

Finally, on May 14th, we joined Human Services Council (HSC) and fellow organizations at City Hall Park for the Campaign’s “Equal Work, Equal Wages” Rally in support of Wage Equity Legislation (Int 0452), which was recently introduced in the City Council. Int 0452 will help close the 30% pay gap between nonprofit and government human services workers by creating a new wage requirement system that aligns nonprofit and City job titles, and through that, aligns salaries.

WHEDco is proud to stand alongside advocates, providers, and public leaders in advancing a more equitable future: one where childcare and human services workers are valued, families are supported, and every child has the opportunity to thrive!

05/14/2026

Yesterday, WHEDco was proud to participate in a United Neighborhood Houses event to celebrate the release of their newest report, “From Trust to Turnout: What Settlement Houses Teach Us About Engaging Voters”, which explores how trusted neighborhood institutions (such as WHEDco!) are reaching underrepresented voters and the lessons learned along the way.

As part of this event, our President Davon Russell joined a discussion moderated by former Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, along with panelists John Mollenkopf (Director of the Center for Urban Research at the CUNY Graduate Center) and Maria Torres-Springer (President of the Charles H. Revson Foundation). Thank you to UNH for leading this charge and for inviting WHEDco to be part of it, and congrats to all of the incredible organizations doing this work day in and day out. Big shout out to our Civic Engagement Specialist, Bianca Alfayo, who has done an incredible job at building civic participation and voter engagement amongst WHEDco’s program participants and community members alike 🤗

To read the full report, visit: https://www.unhny.org/reports

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to the mothers, caregivers, and mother figures across our WHEDco community. The care, strength, and consistency you bring are the foundation for so much of what we all depend on. And while no single day can capture everything you do, today we take the time to recognize you and express our appreciation. We are grateful for you, every day!

05/08/2026

Today is Provider Appreciation Day! We’re celebrating the child care providers, teachers, and caregivers who support our children and our communities every single day.

At WHEDco, we’re proud to work alongside home-based childcare providers across NYC, supporting both licensed and informal caregivers with professional development, regulatory guidance, and small business support. We also celebrate the educators and staff at our Urban Horizons Early Childhood Discovery Center program, serving 103 preschoolers in a nurturing, full-day, year-round environment where children build confidence, think creatively, and grow.

Together, we’re strengthening the quality of care, expanding access to early learning, and helping ensure children are safe, supported, and nourished during the most critical stages of development. Thank you for your care, your dedication, and your impact!

05/08/2026

🤗 Closing out the week by highlighting our successful Second Annual 🐝 at our Highbridge Green School MS ExTRA Extended School Day Initiative. Congrats to our winners, Siga (1st Place), Brandon (2nd Place), and Christopher (3rd Place), and thank you to all of our participants and staff!

We're proud to see how our students shine, inside and outside the classroom. Through our youth education and development programs, like our Extended Day Initiative at Highbridge Green, WHEDco seeks to provide educational and cultural opportunities, while empowering students to think critically, make smart career choices, and contribute responsibly as leaders in their community.

05/06/2026

WHEDco’s Civic Engagement initiatives empower Bronx residents to participate, lead, and drive change in their communities. Through our Civic Engagement Lab, which works with high school students in our Teen Program, we’re building civic identity early. This week, we were thrilled to have our Teen Program participants visit WHEDco’s Bronx CookSpace incubator kitchen for a hands-on lesson in food justice.

Our Civic Educator and Head Chef facilitated a discussion around how food connects to health, community, and culture in the South Bronx, while exploring food and culinary careers as important access points for economic and civic justice. Plus, the teens got to learn recipes, prepare their own food, and have a yummy finale!

05/01/2026